Looking for ways to get your children off screens, into the fresh air, and maybe even a little excited about nature? Welcome to the world of kid-friendly gardening—where digging is encouraged, mess is expected, and worms are VIP guests.
These simple garden projects to do with kids are not only great for improving your outdoor space, but they also encourage creativity, learning, and good old-fashioned muddy fun.
1. Create a Mini Herb Garden
Herbs are one of the easiest ways to get kids into gardening—they grow quickly, smell amazing, and don’t require tons of space.
You can:
- Use pots, window boxes or even recycled tins
- Try easy herbs like basil, mint, parsley, and chives
- Let children decorate the pots with paint or waterproof stickers
- Create homemade plant markers with lolly sticks or pebbles
Bonus: they’ll love picking herbs for pizza toppings or sandwich creations. That’s science and lunch sorted.
2. Plant a Butterfly or Bee-Friendly Corner
Make your garden a pollinator paradise! Let the kids pick brightly coloured flowers and learn how gardens support wildlife.
Try planting:
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Cosmos
- Sunflowers
- Nasturtiums
Add a small insect hotel (you can buy one or make it from sticks, pinecones, and a plant pot) and watch the bugs move in. It’s like Airbnb, but for ladybirds.
3. Grow Your Own Snack Garden
There’s nothing more satisfying than eating something you’ve grown yourself.
Easy edible plants for kids:
- Strawberries in hanging baskets or tubs
- Cherry tomatoes in pots
- Lettuce (cut-and-come-again varieties are great)
- Radishes – quick to grow and brightly coloured
- Sugar snap peas with a little trellis
Encourage taste-testing as things grow, and have them track progress with drawings or photos.
4. Painted Rock Garden Markers
Not everything has to grow—some things can just be fun.
Get the kids painting rocks to mark plant names or just add colour and personality to beds and borders. Use outdoor paint or seal with a weatherproof varnish.
Ideas include:
- Ladybirds
- Mini monsters
- Plant names (with their handwriting!)
- Motivational garden signs like “You grow girl!” or “Bee kind”
It’s a great rainy-day craft that leads to outdoor creativity later.
5. Build a Fairy or Dinosaur Garden
This one is pure imagination with a touch of magic.
Use a large pot, tray, or corner of a flowerbed and decorate it with:
- Pebble paths
- Tiny houses or tents (made from lolly sticks or clay)
- Figurines or miniature trees
- Painted stones and shells
Whether it’s fairies, gnomes, or dinosaurs taking up residence, it’s a lovely ongoing project that grows over the summer.
6. Create a Bird Feeder Station
Encourage wildlife into the garden with DIY bird feeders.
Try:
- Toilet roll tubes covered in peanut butter and seeds
- Homemade fat balls
- Stringing cereal hoops onto pipe cleaners
- Pinecone feeders with lard and seed mix
Track which birds visit using a bird spotter’s guide or free apps. Bonus: it’s surprisingly calming for parents too.
7. Try Regrowing from Kitchen Scraps
Show kids the magic of regeneration by growing plants from leftovers.
Fun ones to try:
- Lettuce hearts or spring onions in a shallow dish of water
- Carrot tops for mini houseplants
- Garlic cloves or potato eyes in pots
- Avocado pits (if you’re feeling patient)
It’s zero-waste, zero-cost, and totally science-in-action.
8. Make a Wormery or Bug Hotel
Worms and bugs may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but kids love them—and they’re brilliant for the garden.
For a wormery:
- Use a clear container with layers of soil, sand, and food scraps
- Keep it cool and covered with black paper
- Watch how worms mix and break things down over time
For a bug hotel:
- Use bamboo, twigs, pinecones and leaves stuffed into a box or bottle
- Place in a shady corner
- Decorate the front to make it feel like a 5-star insect resort
Great for science chats, observation, and squeals of excitement.
Gardening That Grows with You
These simple garden projects to do with kids aren’t just a way to fill time—they build skills, spark curiosity, and create beautiful shared moments. Whether it’s sowing seeds, painting pots, or watching bees do their thing, your outdoor space can become a place of connection and learning all summer long. If the plants don’t grow – you still got sunshine, laughter, and muddy knees. That’s a win.
